The governments of the Philippines and the United States of America (USA) are enhancing their cooperation in the use of space technology for maritime domain awareness, aiming to improve the safety of Filipino mariners at sea. In a joint statement issued Tuesday, May 14, the two nations announced that they had conducted their first Bilateral Space Dialogue in Washington, D.C. in early May, agreeing that Earth observation is a "priority area for bilateral cooperation."
“They discussed a range of programs that use satellites to better forecast weather patterns; support agricultural and infrastructure planning; help monitor and combat climate change and pollution; prepare for and respond to disasters; improve natural resource use; and provide vital telecommunications services,” the joint statement read. The discussions also included the potential hosting of a US Geological Survey Landsat ground station in the Philippines.
Enhancing Maritime Domain Awareness
A significant focus of the dialogue was on the potential expansion of cooperation in the use of space technology for maritime domain awareness. The U.S. Department of Transportation-led SeaVision program was highlighted as a valuable tool for monitoring and documenting vessels in the Philippines' territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. This initiative aims to ensure the safety of mariners, monitor and protect the environment, as well as combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities.
The delegations emphasized the usefulness of such programs in enhancing maritime security and environmental protection. Additionally, efforts to expand satellite-enabled broadband Internet services to remote and underserved areas of the Philippines were discussed. This includes a Philippine Space Agency initiative in collaboration with USAID Better Access and Connectivity, with the goal of leveraging U.S. commercial low-earth-orbit communication satellites.
Future Collaborative Efforts
The joint statement also outlined several future collaborative efforts between the US and the Philippines. These include reviewing joint efforts to promote the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, staying in close communication to expand commercial space ties and space situational awareness, and recognizing the importance of addressing space debris. Furthermore, both governments agreed to work together to expand bilateral exchange and training programs on the use of Earth observation satellite data, development of space applications and technologies, and other space science and skills through fellowships, scholarships, and internship programs.
The next US-Philippines Space Dialogue is scheduled to be held in the Philippines at a mutually agreed-upon future date, underscoring the commitment of both nations to continue and deepen their cooperation in space technology and its applications for mutual benefit.
